The Current Searching for Fela Kuti
Dec 30, 2025
Jad Abumrad, renowned for his work on Radiolab, dives into the life of Fela Kuti, the revolutionary behind Afrobeat. He explores Fela's rise as a political artist, his complex personal life, and the power of music as protest. Abumrad reveals how Fela's mother, an activist herself, shaped his worldview and discusses pivotal moments, like the transformation of his songs from dance tunes to political statements. He challenges listeners to consider if today's music can evoke Fela's kind of change.
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Afrobeat As Musical Weapon
- Fela invented Afrobeat by fusing jazz, James Brown funk, big-band horns and Yoruba drumming into a political music form.
- His music became a weapon that catalyzed political movements and outlived state repression.
Right Moment, Massive Following
- Fela returned to Nigeria at a moment of postwar disillusionment and declared his compound a separate nation.
- That timing drew tens of thousands of young followers and made him a clear threat to the government.
A Book That Reforged Him
- Sandra Isidore handed Fela Malcolm X's autobiography and catalyzed his shift from party songs to militant Afrocentric politics.
- He 'became African' in America and returned to create politically fierce Afrobeat.